RUGBYWA 2024 UPDATED BRAND GUIDELINES

Mental Health and Wellbeing Matters

Both on and off the field, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Amongst professional athletes, data shows that up to 35% of elite athletes suffer from a mental health crisis that may manifest as stress, burnout, or depression and anxiety, so it is critical to make mental health just as important as physical health.

Here for You. Here for Each Other.

The mental health and wellbeing of all players involved in our rugby community is of utmost importance.

Tips to Look After Yourself and Your Wellbeing
  • Engage in your regular exercise or preferred physical activities.
  • Practice mindfulness and meditation techniques.
  • Practice self-compassion – this involves being kind and understanding to yourself. Treat yourself like you are your own best friend!
  • Spend time with your favourite people having fun. Laughing and positive social interaction has been shown to significantly promote positive wellbeing!
  • Prioritise getting enough sleep.
  • Eat well and avoid harmful levels of alcohol.
  • Talk it through with a mate, coach, club or team member.
  • Take time out. This includes taking a break from your responsibilities if you need to.
  • Practice deep breathing techniques. An example of this is the 5X5X5 Breathing Technique. To do this technique you inhale for a count of 5, hold for a count of 5, then exhale for a count of 5, and you do that 5 times.
  • Relax your face then body muscle by muscle. This is called Progressive Muscle Relaxation or PMR. You do this by lying down and gently sequentially tensing each large muscle group for 5 seconds, then relaxing.
  • Spend time outdoors in nature.
  • Get some sunshine - while staying sun smart!
  • Set a good example for others by talking about mental health and seeking professional support.
  • Find a wellbeing resource that works for you.

Resources

True Sport is SportWest's mental health & wellbeing initiative to the WA sporting community. The initiative supports State Sporting Association and other sporting organisation staff to respond to mental health incidents and promote proactive mental health and wellbeing in community sport.

TrueSport's Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit offers clubs, communities and administrations resources to support mental health and wellbeing within the sporting space. These resources are free, and cover critical incidents, sports administration, and club and community toolkits.

Orygen National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health has created a four-part suite of resources designed to help sporting organisations support the mental wellbeing of young people aged 12-24 years of age.

Looking to have a conversation with a friend, teammate or club member about their mental health? Visit the link below for tips on how to have a supportive conversation.

True Sport's Mental Health First Aid Tip Sheet provides helpful information on supporting someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Workshops

True Sport Mental Health and Wellbeing Workshop

Workshops will help SSA staff to embed True Sport - Mental Health and Wellbeing resources within their sporting context and become Mental Health Champions. Participants will learn skills appropriate for a sport administrator to respond to mental health issues and help promote positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes. 

Workshops attendees will also be supported to brainstorm and develop a draft mental health and wellbeing strategy to take back to their sporting organisation.

  • Date: Tuesday 28 May 2024 - 12:00pm-4:00pm
  • Location: Online

Contacts

Need assistance with mental health and wellbeing? The following contacts are able to provide everyone with assistance.

Crisis Response: Responding to a Suicide Concern or Other Mental Health Crises

In the case of an Emergency, contact 000.

Lifeline - 24-hour crises counselling.

  • lifeline.org.au
  • Phone: 13 11 14
  • Text: 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) or chat online

Suicide Call Back Service - Supporting a suicide concern for you or someone else and suicide bereavement.

Sexual Assault Resource Centre - Provides a range of free services to people affected by sexual violence.

Domestic Abuse Services: Crisis Hotlines and Finding Information.

1800RESPECT - Domestic abuse hotline as well as online resources and information.

Men's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides telephone information and referrals for men who are concerned about their violent and abusive behaviours, and for male victims of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.

Women's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides support for women, with or without children, who are experiencing family and domestic violence in Western Australia.

MensLine Australia - 24/7 support for men and boys dealing with family and relationship difficulties. Support for men who are concerned that their behaviour is hurting the people they care about.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Information and Support: Finding Information, Responding to a General Concern or Accessing Support.

Beyond Blue - Telephone and online counselling as well as online resources and information.

Kids Helpline - Free confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline

Headspace - Online, phone support and drop-in centres for 12-25 year olds.

Head to Health - Free advice and connection to local mental health services that will be most suitable to your needs.

Bereavement and Postvention of Suicide: Support in Responding

Standby - Support and information after a suicide has occurred.